Reading to Your Child: A Small Act with a Big Impact - Kingwood

Did you know that research has shown that reading aloud to your child is the single most effective thing you can do to prepare him to succeed in school?

Reading aloud stimulates language and cognitive skills, and builds motivation, curiosity and memory. It helps children build an appreciation for books as a source of pleasure and information.

Early exposure to language and the development of early literacy skills provide children with the foundation needed to become a reader.

Books contain more vocabulary than children typically encounter in spoken language. When you consider 50 percent more words appear in books than prime-time television or even in college students’ conversations, it’s easy to recognize why reading aloud is important.

Here are some reading tips from Primrose:

• Make reading part of your daily routine. Make it part of your nightly bedtime ritual, or find a special time in the afternoon to share a story.
• Talk about the pictures or ask your child to describe what they see in them. You don’t have to read the book to tell a story.
• Let your child turn the pages. Babies need help to turn pages, but your three-year-old can do it alone.
• Point to the words as you read. Run your finger under the words as you read them.
• Choose books that your child can relate to. Select books that relate to what is happening in your child’s world — starting preschool, going to the dentist or moving to a new home.
• Show your child the cover page. Use it to explain what the story is going to be about.
• Make the story come alive. Create different voices for each character.

Take advantage of your local library. Sign your child up for a library card and make frequent trips to the library to check out books. You can expose her to thousands of (free!) children’s books. Check to see if the library offers story hours or special events!